Hundreds of music fans from across Britain are gathering in Cromer this weekend for the resort's 16th Folk on the Pier festival.

Eastern Daily Press: Folk on the Pier 2014. Freres Guichen.PHOTO: ANTONY KELLYFolk on the Pier 2014. Freres Guichen.PHOTO: ANTONY KELLY (Image: Archant Norfolk 2014)

The three-day folk-rock event kicked off yesterday with concerts in the end-of-the-pier Pavilion Theatre and fringe music events at venues all over the town.

Eastern Daily Press: Folk on the Pier 2014. Scott Butler, festival producer.PHOTO: ANTONY KELLYFolk on the Pier 2014. Scott Butler, festival producer.PHOTO: ANTONY KELLY (Image: Archant Norfolk 2014)

Festival director Scott Butler said although there were still tickets available for afternoon gigs, those for the evening concerts were almost sold out.

The festival sees revered veterans of the folk-rock world performing alongside some of the up-and-coming young names on the scene.

'Although we are very serious about our production values, the festival itself is slightly quirky, slightly off-the-wall, with a folk-rock heart - and a sense of humour,' said Mr Butler.

'We're playing at a famous end-of-the pier variety theatre and it has to have a 'show' feel about it.'

This year's highlights include tonight's gig, folk-rock doyen Ashley Hutchings' Morris On, celebrating more than 40 years since the release of an album of the same name which has been described as one of the genre's most influential of all time.

Mr Butler is delighted that Hutchings has accepted an invitation to become the festival's patron. 'Folk-rock was the music genre that inspired me to start Folk on the Pier and Ashley Hutchings has been the pivotal person in the genre's 47-year history' he explained. 'His acceptance is the stamp of approval'.

This afternoon's concert, beginning at 2pm, includes Cajun, Zydeco, Swamp 'n' Roll from Elvis Fontenot and the Sugar Bees, multi-instrumentalist duo While and Matthews, and singer, guitarist and songwriter Fabian Holland.

The festival opened yesterday afternoon with young Cambridge family folk-roots band The Willows whose self-penned songs about people, their lives and stories, draw their inspiration from British folk and Americana traditions.

Also on the bill were Frères Guichen, two Breton brothers who were at the forefront of 'électrochoc' in the 1990s, a groundbreaking interpretation of Brittany's traditional music.

Tomorrow's line-up begins with the 'fun, wit and emotion' of the Mrs Ackroyd Band, followed by folk stalwart Harvey Andrews, and six-piece favourites Brass Monkey - who include folk legend Martin Carthy.

The final evening concert tomorrow finishes with classic folk-rock band Home Service, supported earlier in the evening by The Young 'Uns, described as 'an unlikely force of nature' combining humour, bold vocals, gripping storylines and musicality, and Eileen McGann's soaring vocals backed by David K's multi-instrumental talents.